Judge James R. McClelland

June 21, 1946-March 15, 2015. It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Judge James R. McClelland, 68, announces his passing on Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 4:00 P.M. at his residence in Franklin surrounded by his loved ones after a courageous battle with ALS. Judge McClelland was born on June 21, 1946 in Eunice La, the son of Rufus Ray McClelland and Florene Nunn McClelland. Jim was raised on a rice farm in Elton, La where he graduated valedictorian of his Elton High School Class in May of 1964. He went to LSU where he earned a Chemical Engineering Degree in 1969, an MBA in 1971 and a Juris Doctor Degree from LSU Law School with honors as a member of Oder of the Coif in May 1975. He was a member of the Louisiana Law Review. Jim was in the ROTC program at LSU for 6 years and served 3 months active duty in the U.S. Army. Jim was an avid LSU fan having had season tickets for the past 40 years for football, baseball, basketball and softball. Having been admitted to practice before the Louisiana Supreme Court in October 1975, Jim was also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana. Judge McClelland and his wife of 4 years , Sandy Tate McClelland, then moved to Franklin, Louisiana where he practiced law from 1975 ~2009 with the law firm of Aycock, Horne & Coleman where he became a partner in 1978. He was also the founder of the Public Defender Board and served as a Public Defender from 1975~1981, and an Assistant District Attorney in the 16th Judicial District Court from 1981~2008 when he was elected Judge for the 16th Judicial District Division D and took office on January 1, 2009. In addition to his regular duties Judge McClelland also presided over the St. Mary Parish Adult Drug Treatment Court & DWI court and Juvenile Drug Treatment Center for 4 years. Jim was active with the Louisiana State Bar Association from 1982~2005 where he served in the House of Delegates, Board of Governors, and as Secretary of the LSBA. He was a charter member of the American Inns of Court-Inns on the Teche having served as President from 2010-2011 and received the Professionalism award from the Inns in 2012. Judge McClelland served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Judge McClelland, sometimes known as ""Coach "" to many of the young people he coached in pee wee football, little league baseball and biddy basketball as well as Hanson's girls basketball, enjoyed many years of mentoring and leading young people in the Franklin Community. Judge McClelland belonged to many civic, religious and professional organizations including the Church of the Assumption, Morgan City and Iberia Bowling Leagues, Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at LSU in 1975, & board of directors of the Franklin-Baldwin-Centerville Chamber of Commerce. He served as St. Mary Parish Council Legal Advisor from 1997-2009. Judge McClelland served as a member of the Governor's Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention under Governor Murphy J. ""Mike"" Foster, Jr. from 1997-2004. Jim was inducted into the Morgan City USBC Bowling Association Hall of Fame on May 18, 2013. He was named as one of the national directory of who's who in executives and professionals from 1996-1997, Strathmore's Who's Who lifetime member & the Marquis Who's Who Publication Board Who's Who in America. Judge McClelland was preceded in death by his father Rufus Ray McClelland and his mother, Florene Nunn McClelland as well as his father-in-law, Fred Tate. Judge James R. McClelland is survived by his wife of 44 years, the former Sandra Tate, of Mamou, Louisiana; two sons, Joseph Ray McClelland and his wife Hope Henry McClelland of Gray, Louisiana, Jeffrey Ross McClelland and his wife Danielle Landreneau McClelland of Lafayette, Louisiana, two young women who became daughters to him, Jamie Young Smith of Duson, Louisiana and Jodie Dardeau and husband Daniel Dardeau of Carencro, Louisiana, four grandsons Noah, Alexander, and Ren Dardeau all of Carencro, Louisiana and Ryder McClelland of Gray, Louisiana, seven graddaughters Hattie and Eliza McClelland of Lafayette, Louisiana, Carlynn Henry and Gracie Bourg of Gray and Eden Dardeau of Carencro and Chloe and Hannah Smith of Duson, one brother Thomas ""Tommy"" McClelland and wife Patsy Toups McClelland of Elton, mother-in-law Carina ""Sue"" Vasseur of Mamou, one aunt Louise ""Sammie"" McClelland of Elton as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins that he was greatly fond of. The family wishes to especially acknowledge the judge's beloved caregivers, Chris Gatte, Melvina Morris, Ydell Washington, Ginger Jones, and Ramona Benjamin, as well as Journey Hospice of Houma, Louisiana, expecially Ginger Guidry and Amanda Brewer. Special thanks to Dr. Stephen Kantrow of LSU Health Services ALS Clinic in New Orleans and Dr. Brent Allain of Franklin. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter of ALS Association or to the Hanson/St. John Foundation FBO James R. McClelland fund, 903 Anderson Street Franklin, Louisiana 70538. Visitations will be from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Tuesday, March 17 at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Franklin, Louisiana with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM. Visitation will resume on Wednesday at 9:00 AM until shortly before the funeral service. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 11:00 AM at the the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Franklin, Louisiana. The mass will be co-celebrated by Father Michael J. Russo and Father Lloyd Benoit with the Rev. O'Neal Landry. Pallbearers will be the Judge's nephews: Drew and Jack McClelland, Mark Carriere, and Chad Veillon as well as Edward LeBlanc and Brady Holtzclaw. Honorary pallbearers will be Julie LeBourgeois, Tommy McClelland, Cliff Dressel, Sidney Hebert, David Harris, Vincent Borne, Larry Deslatte, Jimmy Senatte, Andy Reed, Carroll Fuselier, Gerry Block, Lyle Simoneaux, Matt LeBlanc and John Freshley. Burial will follow in the China Cemetery in Elton, Louisiana. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ardoin's Funeral Home of Mamou, Louisiana.